Kitchen backsplash cost in Burlington, VT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $300 – $1,500
- Per sq ft
- $9.90 – $49.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #115
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Burlington, plan on $300 to $1,500 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.90 to $49.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 3% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 97.3).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Burlington, VT, standard level
$650 to $1,100
About $21.50 to $37.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $660 |
| Labor | $290 | $470 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $650 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Burlington, VT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $510 | $880 | 57% |
| Labor | $150 | $380 | $600 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $300 | $890 | $1,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Burlington number
Labor is 43% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is tile and stone setters (90%), carpenters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Burlington the blended ratio comes out at 1.01.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Burlington metro is 97.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $510, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.9) and land at $0 to $0.
Burlington: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Burlington wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$300 to $770
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$650 to $1,100
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,000 to $1,500
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $250 – $640 | $540 – $940 | $840 – $1,250 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $300 – $770 | $650 – $1,100 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $490 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,450 |
Related projects, priced for Burlington
Because every project leans on different trades, Burlington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, bathroom remodel runs +2% and tile flooring −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,300 – $31,200 | −1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,200 | +1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,850 | −1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,750 – $23,700 | +2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $950 – $2,800 | +1% |
Burlington labor market for kitchen backsplash
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Burlington is 1.01 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $26.87 an hour, which is in line with the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.48 and $30.64 an hour. BLS counts 40 of them working in the area, 3.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.19 an hour, which is 4% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.00 and $31.59 an hour. BLS counts 900 of them working in the area, 74.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.64 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $50. At the 25th percentile ($23.48) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 5.4% or 4.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 120,150 jobs in the Burlington-South Burlington area. That makes it the 182nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.48 | $26.87 | $30.64 | $26.77 | 1.00 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $25.00 | $30.19 | $31.59 | $29.12 | 1.04 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
How Burlington compares
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Burlington. Manchester is the lowest at about $850 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 140 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, VTthis page | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | |
| Albany, NY140 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | +3% |
| Manchester, NH140 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −4% |
| Utica, NY140 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +5% |
| Portland, ME150 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | +10% |
| Pittsfield, MA160 miles | $360 – $1,700 | $1,050 | +17% |
| Vermont (statewide) | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Burlington comes in at #115 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Burlington is 0% above the Vermont figure.
Burlington is the only Vermont metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Burlington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Burlington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PA | 120,480 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +11% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −10% |
| Ocala, FL | 120,980 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −9% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | level |
Specs and site conditions that change a Burlington bid
Old backsplash removal
Removing the old one adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $650 to $1,100 for Burlington, VT is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Burlington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Burlington?
For 30 sq ft, expect $300 to $1,500 in the Burlington area. A standard-spec job lands at $650 to $1,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Burlington?
About $9.90 to $49.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $50.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Burlington or Albany?
Albany is 140 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $910, which is 3% more than Burlington ($890). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Burlington?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $380 out of $890. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Burlington?
$300 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Burlington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Burlington area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Burlington expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Vermont?
Burlington is 0% above the Vermont statewide estimate ($890 at the midpoint).
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Burlington?
The BLS median is $26.87 an hour in the Burlington area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.48 to $30.64.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Burlington?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $300 to $770 and premium work $1,000 to $1,500. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Burlington
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: 2026 Backsplash Installation Cost (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $5-$20 per sq ft labor figure, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.